Machinists forum?
- Thread starter evil16v
- Start date
ZRX61
Well-known member
LoneGunman
Well-known member
PM is not very receptive to newbies.
Exactly.
PM is a professional machinist's forum. It is mainly for those engaged in machining as a primary occupation or for those that own machine shops to ask questions, solve problems, and communicate amongst each other. It is not for first-time machine users.
If you've been turning handles for a while, you'll fit in fine. If this is the first time you've touched a machine tool, spend some time at Home Shop Machinist and learn the basics. Once you have the basics down, you'll be prepared to post on PM and fit in fine.
Thedroid
Well-known member
I'm by no means an experienced machinist, and I've had good luck with the PM forum. When dealing with a "professional" forum, you just have to make sure that you don't ask the most basic questions. Do a little studying and practice, and then you will be able to ask the things you don't understand.
-B-
Well-known member
That is not the intention of the forum but what the owner wants to turn it into there is lots of rift with in the membership over this. The premise of the forum come out of the magazine witch is intended for the home shop machinist not commercial machining. The owner is getting a clear and loud message form the members his way is not why they originally joined up.
Snobbery has moved into the machinist ranks? 
We have come a long way.
My dad and uncle were both machinists. My dad owned his own shop. My uncle worked in a shop and had his own shop in his garage where he would turn metal after his regular machinist job. All this was back in Los Angeles when I was a kid and when L.A. was the world leader in the aircraft industry. There was all kinds of work to be had back then
I started cutting metal for my uncle when I was in fourth grade after school. At first this was just cutting simple keys on his metal cutting band saw. Later I did work on the drill press and lathe. It was a fun craft, and maybe I will get back into it one of these days, but first I gotta get some garage space. I find it hard to believe that machinists would turn away others. Maybe it got all snobby when numerical programming and lasers came into play.
Z
We have come a long way.My dad and uncle were both machinists. My dad owned his own shop. My uncle worked in a shop and had his own shop in his garage where he would turn metal after his regular machinist job. All this was back in Los Angeles when I was a kid and when L.A. was the world leader in the aircraft industry. There was all kinds of work to be had back then
I started cutting metal for my uncle when I was in fourth grade after school. At first this was just cutting simple keys on his metal cutting band saw. Later I did work on the drill press and lathe. It was a fun craft, and maybe I will get back into it one of these days, but first I gotta get some garage space. I find it hard to believe that machinists would turn away others. Maybe it got all snobby when numerical programming and lasers came into play.
Z
Snobbery has moved into the machinist ranks?
***SNIP***
I find it hard to believe that machinists would turn away others. Maybe it got all snobby when numerical programming and lasers came into play.
Z
Having spent a long time lurking on the PM board before finding GJ, I'd conclude that it's less CNC and Lasers and more the Internet that has turned it "all snobby". It's the community / group theory thing...
Well, you gotta admit, there's a limit to the number of times the question "Rong-Fu or Bridgeport" needs to be asked. 
I don't think snobbery has anything to do with it. If the place gets overloaded with questions like "How do I square up a block of X?" or "Why won't my Rong-Fu Mill-Drill run my 9" insert face mill?" it impedes the flow of more valuable content. There are other places ready to better serve those questions.
Don is rather coarse, I'll admit. But he does have a point, within limits. Turning people away has nothing to do with it. Keeping the conversation on a high level is what it's about.
Like I said, spend a little time reading about and learning the basics. Once you know what you're doing, PM is a great resource and the membership will welcome your addition.
I don't think snobbery has anything to do with it. If the place gets overloaded with questions like "How do I square up a block of X?" or "Why won't my Rong-Fu Mill-Drill run my 9" insert face mill?" it impedes the flow of more valuable content. There are other places ready to better serve those questions.
Don is rather coarse, I'll admit. But he does have a point, within limits. Turning people away has nothing to do with it. Keeping the conversation on a high level is what it's about.
Like I said, spend a little time reading about and learning the basics. Once you know what you're doing, PM is a great resource and the membership will welcome your addition.
A Pmech;
I completely agree with you on Don. I've maybe made 10 posts at PM (most of them answering things I know something about (not machining). I've learned more there just by reading and "soaking it up" than in any books I've read, etc. I think I joined in late 2003.
Admittedly, I spend the little bit of time I have for "internet nonsense" here at GJ now, whereas I used to pour over the PM postings every evening.
PM is a great resource. It has changed a lot. Don has tightened up a bit since I first was reading, but I understand why (and agree). But to someone who thinks the internet is a friendly, happy-go-lucky place and just bought thier first used Enco Mill/Drill, what they will get at PM is snobbery. At least it will be to them.
The advice to sit back, read and "listen" is very good. A newb could ask a question there in the right way after understanding the climate, but a rookike who googles, finds it, joins, and then posts is almost surely not going to like the reception.
I completely agree with you on Don. I've maybe made 10 posts at PM (most of them answering things I know something about (not machining). I've learned more there just by reading and "soaking it up" than in any books I've read, etc. I think I joined in late 2003.
Admittedly, I spend the little bit of time I have for "internet nonsense" here at GJ now, whereas I used to pour over the PM postings every evening.
PM is a great resource. It has changed a lot. Don has tightened up a bit since I first was reading, but I understand why (and agree). But to someone who thinks the internet is a friendly, happy-go-lucky place and just bought thier first used Enco Mill/Drill, what they will get at PM is snobbery. At least it will be to them.
The advice to sit back, read and "listen" is very good. A newb could ask a question there in the right way after understanding the climate, but a rookike who googles, finds it, joins, and then posts is almost surely not going to like the reception.
to you. Hurco did sell the same machine.Thanks replies. Really.. I just want to do some reading and see how the rest of the world goes about it. I have Intermittently worked on our Bridgeport at work for years, and I am not going there to ask "How do I tighten my lug nuts questions". I can see where they are coming from. A Buick board I used to visit for years, got swamped with that kind of ****. It used to be a great source of information, but has been thinned out with INTERNET types/trolls.
Thanks again for the heads up.
Thanks again for the heads up.
ZRX61
Well-known member
The forum they have at PM for home shop pics is truly one of the wonders of the modern world
krooser
Well-known member
Well, you gotta admit, there's a limit to the number of times the question "Rong-Fu or Bridgeport" needs to be asked.
I don't think snobbery has anything to do with it. If the place gets overloaded with questions like "How do I square up a block of X?" or "Why won't my Rong-Fu Mill-Drill run my 9" insert face mill?" it impedes the flow of more valuable content. There are other places ready to better serve those questions.
Don is rather coarse, I'll admit. But he does have a point, within limits. Turning people away has nothing to do with it. Keeping the conversation on a high level is what it's about.
Like I said, spend a little time reading about and learning the basics. Once you know what you're doing, PM is a great resource and the membership will welcome your addition.
I'm a member but haven't posted in a couple years.... all on the "vintage' forum while I was asking about buying older machines.
Sadly, your comment about the 'Rung-Fu" question applies here, too.
I thought I recognized you from there, Krooser.